Russ Campbell limped through an injury-filled 1988 season as a tight end at Kansas State University. The Wildcats had gone 0-10-1 and 0-11 in back-to-back years, and a new coach wanted to move Russ to the defensive line.

“I wanted to quit. I hated life,” Russ said. But before he gave up, he called his brother-in-law, Doug Peake, a minister in Wichita, who encouraged him to pray. So, Doug prayed. He asked for the tenacity of a weed! “Weeds have such tenacity. They’re always coming back, coming back, and always growing,” explains Russ. “That’s what I prayed for… the tenacity of a weed.”

Matthew 7 – Persistent Prayer

Tenacity in prayer is the way to receive what we need from God, as taught in Matthew 7:7-11. What do we truly need? We need to do God’s will with all our hearts. We need food, shelter, and clothing. Jesus told us to “ask,” to “seek,” and to “knock” on Heaven’s door with our requests. Like a beggar looking for bread or a traveler asking for directions, we simply approach God with our needs. God promises to provide.

Seeking means “asking plus effort” to obtain. We are first to seek God as we would seek a valued treasure. Then, we are to seek the answer to our requests. We must trust God and work hard to achieve what we seek. God promises we will find what we seek.

God answered Russ Campbell’s prayer. He returned and caught more passes (35) than any Big Eight tight end in the following two seasons. He was named second-team All-Big Eight and was K-State’s top football scholar-athlete. How do you pray? Is it with persistence and active seeking as you wait for God’s answers? Stick with God, and you will not be disappointed.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete are persistent in their prayers as they seek what He desires for them, humbly letting go of their own wills to His.

Bible Memory Verse – “Then He *said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.’” Matthew 9:37-38 (LSB)

Click HERE for the Kingdom Sports Minute on the Prayerful.

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